Compliance with gluten-free diet in a selected group of celiac children in the Slovak Republic.

OBJECTIVE: Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic long-term disease with autoimmune disorder connected to an allergic reaction to the molecule of gluten. CD is manifested in persons who are genetically predisposed. The only therapy for CD is a strong gluten-free (GF) diet. The aim of our study was to follow the adherence to the gluten-free diet in the selected group of parents and caregivers of children with CD, and to compare factors influencing the adherence to GF diet and therefore influencing also clinical symptoms of CD. We compared and examined important food-related activities as well, by using a personal questionnaire in the group of CD children's parents or caregivers. METHODS: We designed a cross-sectional study; 325 parents or caregivers of children with CD were recruited in the sample. CD was confirmed by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) criteria. The anonymous questionnaires were collected at summer camps within period data 2012-2016 and followed factors which might have an influence on compliance with GF diet, according to parents' opinions. RESULTS: Adherence to GF diet was statistically significantly higher among girls compared to boys. Parents' questionnaires confirmed that younger group of children and children with the family history of CD had statistically higher compliance with GF diet. Parents with higher education confirmed better adherence to GF diet, statistical analyses confirmed higher adherence in mother´s education compared to father's education. Duration of CD, socio-demographic factors of parents - age of parent, gender of parent, and residency were not statistically significant in terms of compliance with the diet. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed important factors influencing adherence to the GF diet, which are connected to the symptoms and consequences of CD. The assessment of parents' opinions and burden on the families of children with celiac disease should be also reflected in the evaluation of patient's status. Important is also the role of parents in order to facilitate and support clinical interventions and prevention of CD.

Prevalence of lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors in a group of medical students.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the cross-sectional study was to evaluate cardiovascular risk factors in the group of medical students with gender, overweight and obesity categorisation. METHODS: Cross-sectional study included 364 medical students, 207 females and 157 males. We investigated anthropometric parameters, BMI, body fat percentage, WHR (waist-hip ratio), TCH (total cholesterol) and LDL-CH (LDL-cholesterol), SBP and DBP (systolic and diastolic blood pressure). The participants also completed questionnaires with socio-demographic characteristic, including smoking, unhealthy eating, self-perceived health, and physical activity status. Statistical analysis used t-test differences in arithmetic means and OR calculation with 95% CI. RESULTS: Prevalence of increased blood pressure (> SBP/DBP 120/80 mmHg) among participants was 10.99% (SBP) and 9.07% (DBP). The results confirmed risk of "overweight + obesity" in 15.38% (using BMI evaluation) versus 18.54% cases (using body fat percentage evaluation). The results of the study confirmed statistically higher risk for males compared to females in the following parameters: SBP, DBP, BMI, body fat percentage, self-perceived health, unhealthy eating and body weight watching. "Overweight and obesity" group (BMI evaluation) confirmed all factors on statistically significant level a risky group: SBP, DBP, body fat percentage, TCH, self-perceived health, smoking, stress at university, and body weight watching. The outputs confirmed, on the other hand, low amount of clinical obesity (0.8%), clinical hypertension (BP > 140/90) 1.1%, and clinically higher cholesterol level (TCH > 5.2 mmol/l) in 8.7% participants. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed higher prevalence or cardiovascular risk factors among males. Also, group of "overweight and obese" students had higher frequency of cardiovascular risk factors. Border limits for risk evaluation were strong, so on clinical level we can evaluate the group of medical students as healthy. In the group of young medical students, we confirmed lower frequency of risk factors compared to the Slovak population average.

Anthropometric predictors of systolic and diastolic blood pressure considering intersexual differences in a group of selected schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVES: Although the association between anthropometric parameters and blood pressure has been established for adults, the relationship for children has not been thoroughly studied in Slovakia. Present study investigates the association between anthropometric parameters and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the group of randomly selected schoolchildren. METHODS: Examinations were conducted as a cross-sectional study with 760 schoolchildren from Eastern Slovakia, 381 boys and 379 girls. The blood pressure evaluation included sphygmomanometer technique (seated, 3 times repeated) measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP; DBP). Anthropometric measurements included: body weight, height, circumference of waist, hip and chest, BMI, WHR (waist-hip ratio), fat skinfolds measurement, triceps skinfold, and derivation of body fat percentage. The parents' questionnaires incorporated basic demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the family, reported BMI of father and mother, and child's birth-weight and birth-length. Statistical analysis included Student's t-test gender differences in measured parameters, partial Pearson's correlations and linear regression model of the impact of body parameters Z-scores on SBP and DPB. RESULTS: Statistical analysis confirmed gender difference in basic anthropometric parameters. Pearson's correlations revealed highly significant relationship of anthropometric indices to SBP compared to DBP. Correlations of anthropometric parameters with SBP and DPB were more significant for boys compared to girls. Linear regression analysis showed that the highest impact on SBP and DBP had Z-score of BMI, followed by weight and height. Z-score of body weight has statistical impact on SBP and DBP in all group and group of boys (p < 0.001), lower significance was in DBP of girls (p < 0.01). Similar results were obtained for Z-score of height and BMI for SBP and DBP in both total group and group of boys on level p < 0.001. Z-score for BMI and height in DBP has lower statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Linear regression model confirmed higher statistical relationship of SBP and DBP in the group of boys compared to the group of girls. SBP correlations and linear regression model of anthropometric parameters revealed more significant outputs compared to DPB. The results confirmed the fact that we have to consider anthropometric indices in paediatric blood pressure evaluation.

Seroprevalence of antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis in humans and animals.

The presence of antibodies against Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi) and Encephalitozoon intestinalis (E. intestinalis) was examined in 215 samples from humans and in 488 samples from five different species of domestic and companion animals in Slovakia. The 215 human samples and samples from 90 swine, 123 non-infected cattle (cattle), 24 cattle infected with bovine leukosis virus (BLV-positive cattle), 140 sheep and 111 dogs were examined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples with serum titres 1:200 or higher were considered as positive. Specific anti-E. cuniculi antibodies were found in humans (0.9%), swine (52%), cattle (2%), sheep (9%) and dogs (15%) except for the BLV-positive cattle at the titre of 1:200. The titre of 1:400 was detected only in humans (0.5%). The presence of specific anti-E. intestinalis antibodies at the titre of 1:200 was confirmed in humans (6%), swine (51%), cattle (11%), BLV-positive cattle (13%) and dogs (6%) but not in sheep. The anti-E. intestinalis antibodies reached the 1:400 in humans (1%), swine (4%) and BLV-positive cattle (17%). The presence of specific anti-E. intestinalis antibodies at the titre of 1:600 was observed only in one swine (1%). Significant differences were observed in animals at titres 1:200 and 1:400 (chi-squared test: p<0.0001) for both pathogens and in humans only for E. cuniculi at the titre of 1:400 (chi-squared test: p<0.0075).

Occurrence of IgG antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophilum in humans suspected of Lyme borreliosis in eastern Slovakia.

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) and Lyme borreliosis (LB) are tick-borne and emerging infectious diseases caused by the Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi species. In Europe, including Slovakia, the principal vector of both pathogens is the common tick - Ixodes ricinus, in which double infections with these pathogens have been reported. The aim of our study was evidence of IgG antibodies against A. phagocytophilum in blood sera of humans with suspects LB from several Clinics of University Hospitals, and the evaluation of the possibility of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum co-infection in examined patients. The serological method ELISA was used to detect IgM and IgG antibodies against B. burgdorferi. Anti-A. phagocytophilum IgG antibodies were analyzed by the A. phagocytophilum Indirect Immunofluorescence Antibody (IFA) IgG test. A total of 214 human samples (91 men, 123 women) were obtained from patients living in Kosice town and in villages around Kosice (Eastern Slovakia). IgG antibodies against A. phagocytophilum were detected in 15 cases (6 men, 9 women), which represented 7.0 % positivity. Two cases of the co-infection B. burgdorferi with A. phagocytophilum, which equals 0.93 % of the total number, were found.